The new car will have actual grille bars instead of just a sticker and hood lines that more resemble the production-model fusion, while still meeting NASCAR guidelines.

“We had an opportunity to add more personality and detail to the race car,” Garen Nicoghosian, Ford design manager in charge of the NASCAR project, said in a release.

“We took advantage of this opportunity and sculpted a more aggressive front end and we added grille bars that are identical in design to the production car. We also added more detail to the fog light housings, and created a more detailed headlight area as well.

“In addition, we also sculpted a more aggressive hood and were able to achieve a closer look to the production car. Our race car is even closer in design to the production car now, and we are very pleased with the results.”

Here is a look at the front end of the latest version of the 2013 NASCAR Fusion, center, as compared to the first reveal, left, and the production model, right. Photo by Ford Motor Co.

Mike Pryson
- Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and M-Live Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek as online motorsports editor In 2012.
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